Animal health & welfare
Dr. Robin Condron
Dairy Australia
Animal health
Australia’s current animal health framework (simplified)
Standing Council on
Primary Industries
Dairy industry
involvement in policy
development
National Biosecurity
committee
Dairy industry
involvement in programs
Animal Health
Committee
Animal Health
Australia
Industry QA programs
(LPA, food safety)
Private vets
Farm food safety
plans/dairy licencing
and LPA
State Govt ‘Livestock Disease’ Controls
Industry training &
extension
Dairy industry training &
extension (NCDEA)
Official Animal Health Assurances
Australia is free of all major epidemic diseases of livestock
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Geographical isolation
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Sound quarantine procedures
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Well-developed management
and preparedness programs
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Surveillance programs
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Previous national disease
eradication programs
National Arbovirus
Monitoring Program
Bovine
Tuberculosis
Surveillance
Project
National Residue
Survey
Australian Milk
Survey
Northern Australia
Quarantine Strategy
National Enteric
Pathogen Surveillance
Scheme
Australian Wildlife
Health Network
Accreditation
Programs (enzootic
bovine leucosis,
ovine brucellosis)
Laboratory Testing
(state / NT
veterinary services
– serological
testing for a
number of
diseases)
Transmissible
Spongiform
Encephalopathies
Freedom Assurance
Program
National Animal
Health Information
System
NAHIS
Port Surveillance
Program
Market Assurance
Program (Johne’s
disease)
Surveillance/monitoring Programs
National Arbovirus
Monitoring
Program
Veterinary
Investigations (exotic
and emergency
disease
investigations)
Control Programs
Australian dairy risk management
Animal health
– National
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National policy (PIMC, DAFF, AHC, ADF)
International representation by Aust. Chief Veterinary Officer (OIE)
National border protection / biosecurity controls (DAFF/AQIS)
Emergency animal disease preparedness and management (AUSVETPLAN)
Animal health laboratory network
Australian veterinary reserve
National animal disease surveillance & reporting (NAHIS)
National animal disease control programs (Animal Health Australia)
Dairy cattle production disease programs (Dairy Australia)
National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS)
Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) quality management program / NVDs
Food Standards (public health)
National training curriculum for vets and farmers (University & TAFE)
Australian dairy risk management
Animal health
– State regulatory controls (State Depts of Primary Industries)
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Livestock disease control / biosecurity legislation
Cattle ID regulations
TSE regulations
State ‘control’ and ‘eradication’ programs
Controls over contaminated land & chemical residues in animals sold for slaughter/ meat
Livestock management legislation (build on industry quality management systems)
Compliance and audit activities
Dairy food safety legislation
Vet Practitioner’s Registration Boards
Dairy on-farm assurance
Australian dairy risk management
Animal health
– Non-regulatory controls & supports
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Livestock Production Assurance program
Government & private veterinarians
Training for farmers (NCDEA)
Industry R&D and extension activities
National Industry Animal Health Priorities
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Emergency animal diseases
Biosecurity
EBL Freedom
Endemic diseases
• Mastitis
• BVD – pestivirus
• Reproduction
• Facial eczema
• BJD Management
• Others
– Zoonoses
– Calf Husbandry
–Downer cows
Biosecurity
– Essential Elements
• Managing stock movements.
• Managing entry and movement of people
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and vehicles
Managing introduction of farm inputs
such as stockfeed, water and other inputs.
Managing risks from adjoining land and
neighbours
Managing animals to prevent occurrence
and spread of disease
Prompt and safe removal of dead animals
Managing shed effluent and farm waste
– Animal Health Information- DA Website
Animal welfare
Australia’s current animal welfare framework (from AAWS)
Dairy industry
extension activities
Dairy industry
involvement in policy
development
Dairy industry
surveys and
monitoring
FSANZ
OGTR
Dairy industry R&D,
work on supply chain
improvements
Farm food safety
plans/dairy licencing
and LPA
Dairy industry training &
extension (NCDEA)
Animal welfare
Australian dairy risk management
National
– Policy
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Australian animal welfare strategy
National Dairy Industry Animal Welfare Strategy (ADF)
Representation to national policy councils (of PIMC)
Animal Health Australia
– COPs, Standards & Guidelines
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National Codes of Practice for the welfare of cattle, transport of cattle
New Animal Welfare ‘Standards & Guidelines’ in development
– Implementation
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Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) / NVDs
Allied industry quality management programs (ie TruckCare, Aust. Livestock & Property Agents Assoc.)
Registered veterinarians
Animal Health Australia programs
Industry R&D and extension activities
Animal welfare
Australian dairy risk management
Animal welfare
– State regulatory controls (State DPIs, RSPCA, Local Govt)
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‘Prevention of cruelty to animals’ legislation
Livestock management legislation (pick up COP)
State-based livestock disease/biosecurity controls (and cattle ID regs)
Government vets, State-based disease ‘control’ and ‘eradication’ programs
Compliance and audit activities
Dairy food safety legislation
Animal welfare
Australian dairy risk management
Animal welfare
– Non regulatory controls & supports (industry and govt)
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Livestock Production Assurance program
Dairy on-farm quality assurance programs
Milk company peer support networks
Rural financial councillor network
Industry R&D & survey work
Industry extension
Industry disaster management
National Dairy Industry Animal Welfare Strategy
VISION
To be leaders in the care of our animals
MISSION
To provide leadership to enhance our
record for animal care, ensuring
community confidence and market
access
VISION: All Australians value animals and
are committed to improving their welfare
Animal welfare – 5 freedoms*
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Freedom from hunger and thirst
– by ready access to fresh water & a diet to maintain full health & vigour.
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Freedom from discomfort
– by providing an appropriate environment including shelter & a comfortable
resting area.
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Freedom from pain, injury & disease
– by prevention or rapid diagnosis & treatment.
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Freedom to express normal behaviour
– by providing sufficient space, proper facilities & company of the animal’s own
kind.
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Freedom from fear & distress
– by ensuring conditions & treatment which avoid mental suffering.
*FAWC, 2011
Addressing animal welfare in the dairy industry
• Established Strategy
• Identified priorities
• Implement effective research, development
and extension in animal welfare priorities
• Benchmarked performance
• Regular reviews
• Quality assurances systems in place on farm incorporating elements of animal
welfare
• Communicate to the whole community aimed at an improved understanding of
dairy welfare
Animal Welfare Activities
– Animal Welfare Policy, Planning and
review
• Land Transport Standards
• Cattle Standards
– Addressing Animal Welfare
Priorities
– Animal Welfare Engagement and
Communication
Priority Areas for Animal Welfare
– Calf Management
• Ensuring calves are managed across the supply chain to meet agreed
industry practices and standards
– Tail Docking
• The Australian dairy industry does not support tail docking and promotes
alternatives
– Calving Induction
• Support implementation of agreed management strategies to achieve a
reduced requirement for calving induction
– Disbudding
• Disbudding of calves is undertaken in preference to dehorning of cattle at
an older age
– Lameness
• Minimise lameness through adoption of practices to prevent, detect and
treat cases on farms
– Pain Relief
Evaluation
Initial review of QA programs and industry
extension packages with respect to animal welfare
codes of practice
Social science research conducted in 2005
identified the major barriers and drivers for
change for farmers in improving animal welfare
areas
Animal husbandry survey in 2005 established
benchmarks and repeated in 2008 & 2010 to track
success
Priorities reviewed in 2008, 2010, 2012.
National Extension Programs
Accredited Courses
Dairy Welfare We Care
Communication to Farmers